Originally posted August 2, 2011
((This is the first chapter where I welcomed input and explained how I would run the RP. I was never able to make any of it happen in game, thanks to a very hectic travel schedule.
You can read the whole thread here.))
((Thanks to everyone who got back to me about participating in "The Snake Knows..." I am looking forward to crafting this story together and we've got a talented group of people working on it.
I'm going to try and work the story as a hybrid, using forum posting to set and run scenes that require a little less urgency and in-game sessions for faster paced or interpersonal dialog and action (Assuming they ever fix the chat bug ). I plan on fictionalizing transcripts as best I can and posting them here for everyone's enjoyment.
The actual RP time should just be a couple of days, although the story may take a couple of weeks to play out in RT. Please don't let this hang up any other ongoing story lines. I'm not exactly sure what will happen, but I'm pretty sure the characters can wrap things up in a 2 ~3 days.
Since I'm off to GenCon for the rest of the week ((Don't hate me, MK )), I thought I'd kick off the story with a little forum RP, a mission briefing where Chance gets to share what he knows and people can ask questions. I plan on checking the forums a few times a day and will respond to postings as soon as I can. I will schedule some in game time, next week.
Thanks again to everyone that contacted me. Please PM me if I can provide any additional information or clarification.))
Asking everyone to a mission briefing in the unfinished basement of his restaurant felt a bit awkward. He'd met with all of these people at one time or another in the Guardians' Tower or even on the moon. Kicking off an operation from a folding table and chairs didn't feel particularly auspicious. Chance looked over at the plates of appetizers, hand crafted sodas, and wine for those who wanted some. At least he offered better food.
A number of hastily gathered pictures lay on the faux wood surface of the table. A young woman, eyes bright, fit if not athletic, shoulder length, auburn hair, looked out from most; smiling in many. Chance stood at the edge of that table, dressed in pressed slacks and a dark grey shirt, a maroon tie loose around his next. His blue eyes scanned the photos, hoping that face would start to offer some clues as to the missing girl's whereabouts. The young detective felt his throat tighten as he looked at that face and took a deep breath before beginning the overview.
"This is what I know so far. Keep in mind that I've only been working on this for about 12 hours. Details are very sketchy. Please wait until the end before asking question."
"Her name is Stephanie Burdette, twenty-two years old, daughter of Michigan State Senator Harvey Burdette. She received her BA in Political Science from University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She graduated with honors, in the top 10% of her class. She enjoys horseback riding, skiing, and canoeing."
"Last year she applied for and was accepted into the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program. It's a program run by the Japanese government bringing native speakers to Japan to help with foreign language instruction there. Ms Burdette was assigned to four high schools in Saitama, practically a suburb of Tokyo. Most of these pictures come from her Facebook page and the last year."
"When her contract expired, Stephanie told her father she planned to extend her stay in Japan. She would move to Tokyo and teach English for a few more months to earn more money before heading to grad school in the fall. She rented a small apartment in a 'Gaijin Ghetto' in the Roppongi District with a friend. After not returning from a date two weeks ago, the friend, Clare Hellmann, contacted the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department to file a missing persons report. It wasn't until Claire got Stephanie's father involved that the TMPD finally filed the paperwork."
"Senator Burdette is a client of my father's. That's how I learned about Ms Burdette's disappearance. He contacted me to look into it without raising the ire of the Japanese. He told me repeatedly that while he's unsatisfied with the TMPD's handling of the matter; he didn't want another Lucie Blackman."
Chance's eyes moved from face to face for any sign of recognition. He wouldn't have known about Lucie Blackman either, if he hadn't been a child in Japan at the time. "Lucie Blackman was a flight attendant working as a hostess and prostitute in Japan who disappeared in 2000. Unhappy with the progress made on the case, Lucie's family went to Japan and started a high profile media campaign designed to gather information. Their acts were seen as disrespectful by most Japanese and may have led to the TMPD dragging their feet even more during the investigation. The police eventually found her mutilated body and made an arrest, but the suspect was initially acquitted of any charges relating to Lucie's death. Some diligent work by a public prosecutor led to a re-trial in 2008 at which the court found Obara Joji found guilty on all counts."
"It's possible that Stephanie is working as a hostess, if not," he hitched just a moment as his eyes went to the young teen at the table, "a prostitute. I talked with Clare Hellman. I heard the same details she gave the father, but I can't help thinking that she's not telling everything. She told me who Stephanie supposedly went out with that night, but didn't have any contact information for him. I plan on visiting her as soon as we land in Japan."
"A couple of things I think you should know, before I we start a general discussion. I'm licensed as a private investigator in Japan and have acted as an agent of the court system there, previously. I also have a few contacts in various intelligence agencies in the country. I don't expect those connections will afford me any special rights, access, or police powers. The Japanese see most PI's as little more than extortionists and thugs, and my friends are more interested in international matters."
"Keep in mind that the Japanese hold their police in high regard, but often won't go to them. Many prefer to settle disputes within their immediate communities. In feudal times, an accuser was as likely to be tortured as the accused to ensure all parties involved were offering up the truth. It acted as a powerful deterrent to reporting crime that seems to carry on to today. It's very likely that the police will see us as foreign interlopers. I don’t think we should expect much help from them."
"Also, I don't have any super powers." Chance paused for a moment, a slight blush in his cheeks. "I know a little magic, but it's hardly worth mentioning and only works when I have my sword drawn. I work with super-humans all the time. I haven't really investigated many cases with them very much before. If there is something you can offer, something that will help us find Stephanie, please bring it forward." He tilted his head sides to side in that odd, Japanese equivalent of a shrug. "I won't know to ask."
Chance pulled a glass to his lips and took a long swallow. "Any questions?"
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